Manuel Antonio | Informal Campsite

December 13th, 2022 by janinewilhelm

The other comments are true. Through the daytime it is really crowdy, but it gets quieter in the evening/night. We came around 15:30 and had to pay 5000c for the night (at first he wanted 12000c). We used the toilets from the "bus". The next day we walked from there to the Parque (around 15 minutes) and avoided the extra parking fee there.

November 11th, 2021 by manejandoypedaleando

Really crowded during the day. You are in the middle of the vendors, lots of noice and not a lot of privacy. We stayed one night, nothing happened and felt safe. Next day we moved to the parking by the beach a few kms north and was much nicer. That side of the beach is more quiet and much less crowded of vendors and people.

September 28th, 2021 by roikenyon

Great spot for the night and day.

There are people at the entrance how want money for the parking. We don’t pay them!
Asking some locals and it is public beach.
We told those people to show any papers or call the police that tell us it is privet beach.
Do not afraid from them.
They go afternoon and the night was quiet whit no problem.
We got water from the food track near the beach.
The only shower we find is at the street in souvenir shop but close at 15:30.

Recommended spot for everyone, just don’t leave your staff outside

October 2nd, 2020 by eric_on_the_road

Arrived around 6 PM and no one was there. There are people living in a School Bus at the entrance, but they did not come talk to me. Lots of people showed up during the day (Saturday) and there are people charging for parking, but since I was there already, nobody asked for payment. I had to leave at 2:30 PM, as police was getting people out of the beach ‘cause of covid restrictions. Went to Biesanz.

December 29th, 2019 by robertstad

Arrived here around 11:30 am on a Sunday. There were about 200 cars parked on the spot and there was no way to park anywhere. Also the rest of the road was full of cars. Not a single parking spot left.

October 30th, 2019 by stefanmhillmann

Absolutely goooorgeous! Paid 5000 for parking, but I bet it’s officially for free... they said it is safe, but our adidas sandals got taken during night, fair enough though, we left them outside the car to be fair... put everything away and inside and you should be fine. would definitely be careful around there and do not know if I would stay there over night during high season, we talked to the local lifeguards, they also recommended to be very careful with valuables around here. But you really park like 2 meters away from the beach and the beach is one of the best we have seen so far... view right onto cathedrals point from Manuel Antonio national park!
But I miss my adidas slippers already... 😭

May 9th, 2019 by mevefou

Un endroit parfait! Nous sommes hors saison touristiques et c’est très bien. Cela doit être très achalandé en saison touristique. Nous avons payé 2000 c la 1e nuit. Nous y sommes demeurés 3 nuits. Endroit très tranquille la nuit. Le surf y est super en tout temps. Leçons de surf sur place. À quelques minutes de marche du Parc Manuel Antonio.

April 30th, 2019 by floresontheroad2018

We arrived on a Monday late afternoon (after 6pm) and some surf rent guy told us we could camp here. We found our perfect spot (too shade for our solar panel, but right in front of the ocean, so fine!). We stayed right outside hotel verde mar, and nobody ever asked to pay, so finally we stayed 10 days totally;) . We left here the van one day to visit the national park. The only problem in Manuel Antonio is that it’s not so easy to get water for the tank and supermarkets are expensive so go to Quepos supermarket before.

April 26th, 2019 by nijnenalex

Absolutely gorgeous place, in between the Palm trees. Watch out for hanging branches when driving in. We found a good spot for our 4WD with rooftoptent, very friendly people also. We paid 5000 for parking during the day. It was very busy and they were arranging everything orderly. Camping was free through. Beautiful place, highly recommend.

November 22nd, 2018 by hilberink.a

Very nice camping spot right at the beach. When we drove by a lot of 'Guides' where standing on the road to let you pay for the parking. First we parked our car somewhere else and we came back around 16.00 no more guides and no one asked us to pay anything. Stayed here for 2 night felt really safe!

October 22nd, 2018 by ingejansenfotografie

Very nice spot at the beach. You van drive with your car till where the palmtrees stops. Nice white sandy beach. Cool surfspot. We paid 10 dollar/5000 colones for a night. At daytime monkeys at the beach. Till now the best spot we have visited to camp on the beach.
The surfteachers are sleeping at the beach as well, so youre not alone and they check the visitors. Safe.
Possibility to take a shower in the hotel MAnuel Antonio for 1 box.

June 25th, 2018 by juliettegoodman

The whole beach parking lot was really busy until about 4.30pm on both days we were there (granted this was at the weekend). However we were able to get an amazing parking spot right by the beach in the evening.

At this time in the evening we could park for free however there were parking wardens who were coming round very early in the morning asking for 3000 colones for daytime parking - this could be different not at the weekend we’re not sure. National Park is closed Monday’s but well worth a visit.

May 25th, 2018 by abori.gen

Very nice parking lot directly on the beach!!!
Felt very safe and locals were really nice to us.
We didn’t have to pay anything ! Slept with other overlander.

March 22nd, 2018 by bernbo

Inspection des lieux en PM. Camping avec le VR à la noirceur. Un peu inquiet. Les ticos serrent leur chaises longues et planches en location le jour. Aucun problèmes. Paysage le matin époustouflant. La police patrouille la nuit. Site gratuit le long de la plage Espadilla (& non Manuel Antonio) Au lot municipal, on essaie de nous extorquer des colones.

January 17th, 2018 by lr110travels.com

Awesome, beautiful wild camp right at the beach. lots of shade. Showers available for 500crc. Toilets in restaurant next door, also 500crc or you buy a batido, they are very good. Only small rigs, we just fit with our 2.5meters, on the campspot there is space for the rooftop tent. A couple of surf schools right there, also parasailing and Jetski and kayak rental. Not too many people at the beach even though it's high season. people here are very nice. We didn't have to pay anything. Another couple we met had to pay 3000crc, I don't know if that was the parking fee, They arrived during daytime, we arrived late afternoon...
You can get potable water from the man who lives here for a donation.
Very safe here. Highly recommended.